Army lays siege to Kilinochchi; LTTE defences fast falling apart
Sri Lanka Army offensive divisions in the Wanni theatre of operations are now marching towards the Kilinochchi built up in three frontiers, defence sources in the battlefield said. Army Task Force 1 and 57 Division have launched attacks at the LTTE held earth bund built around Kilinochchi outskirts.
According to the latest reports from the battlefront, pitched battles are going on in the North of Adampan, South of Adampan and Therumurikandi areas since early this morning (Nov 23).
The third group of civilians who had been able to escape the LTTE tyranny in Wanni via land routes arrived at Omanthai this morning (Nov 23).
According to the defence.lk special correspondent in Omanthai, 81 civilians arrived in two groups. He said the first group comprising of 43 males and 28 females of 15 families arrived around 7.45 AM while the other comprising 6 males and 4 females arrived around 10 AM. The majority of the refugees were youth while there were few children too, he said. There were residents of Kanakarayankulam, Sinnadampan, Puthukulam and Nainamdu areas, he added.
The refugees had told our correspondent that they could free themselves from the terrorists clutches because of the security forces operations against the LTTE. The terrorists' ability to manhandle the civilians at gunpoint is fast dwindling that people will soon escape the Wanni open prison in large numbers, they have added.
One of the youth had revealed that people in Wanni have placed a very high hope over the success of the security forces that they would be soon be free from the LTTE.
The Cabinet approved to a memorandum submitted by Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana to initiate a project to illuminate the Sigiriya Rock during the night and to put up a light show initially on Fridays and Saturdays.
The project will be implemented utilising foreign funds which are to be arranged through the Department of External Resources after obtaining approval from relevant institutions.
Sigiriya is the highest income earning site under the Central Cultural Fund due to its magnificent cultural, historical and archaeological value. The Japanese Government has provided enormous facilities to develop this World Heritage Site.
Even though a large number of local and foreign tourists visit Sigiriya, only a small percentage spend the night in this area because there is nothing to attract them in the evening to persuade them to stay for multiple nights in the area, the memorandum pointed out.
LTTE airstrip captured in Pooneryn The military captured a 200 metre long runway on the Paranthan-Pooneryn road, that has been used to operate LTTE’s light air craft, the defence ministry said.
Sri Lanka army captured the first line of defence of LTTE on the northern Jaffna peninsula, the army has said.
The first line of Tamil Tiger defenses at Muhamalai fell after several days of heavy fighting, Sri Lanka's military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.
Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe says Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has to be brought in to the deliberations of the All Party Representative Conference (APRC).
Wickremasinghe who is in India meeting Indian leaders to apprise them of the current political situation in Sri Lanka has met India's main opposition the Bharathiya Janatha Party's top leaders including former Foreign Ministers of India, Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha.
Following his talks with Jaswant Sing, he told journalists that the government and the United National Party (UNP) should both have discussions with the TNA towards achieving peace in the country.
He also says that he already had discussions with the President in this regard in finding out a political solution duly involving the Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians.
Former Foreign Minister of India, Jaswant Singh .
Wickremasinghe said that Mr.Singh wanted some information from him on the latest situation in Srilanka which he did, and had discussions based on improving Indo-Lanka relations. Source:BBC
Central Bank forfeits Rs. 71 million from TRO accounts
The Central Bank has taken steps to seize the funds held by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), widely known as a fund-raising arm of the LTTE and banned for this reason in several countries.
The Bank said a sum of 71 million rupees of TRO money has been thus forfeited by the state.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has commenced special inquiries on another twenty illegal financial institutes currently running in the country.
Sri Lankan troops have captured a strategically important town used by the Tamil Tigers as a key supply route to the island's north, the army says.it is the first time in recent fighting that the army has captured parts of the A9 highway leading to the Jaffna peninsula. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the army took control of Mankulam town on Monday.
He said that in capturing the town the army had cut off rebel supply routes. The town has been in rebel hands for since 1999 and lies near the A9.
The army says that the town was captured after several hours of heavy fighting and is important because it lies on a strategically important junction of the road, giving them control of the north, south and east.
Tamil Tiger rebels The rebels are fighting a rearguard action in the north
The A9 is the main way of travelling overland from the centre of the island to the north.
But correspondents say that the rebels seldom used the route because they knew it would make their forces vulnerable to land and air attacks by the army.
"In addition to capturing Mankulam, we are holding Panichchankulam which is 10km (six miles) north," army commander Lieut Gen Sarath Fonseka said.
World news -Pakistan President Zardari calls Clinton, gets support for the BidenLugar dollar 15 billion package President Asif Ali Zardari Friday called Senator Hillary Clinton on telephone who has emerged as a choice of President‑elect Barack Obama for the US Secretary of State. The President, now in New York to attend the dialogue on interfaith harmony, said Pakistan was striving for peace in the region and its nascent democracy needed support and cooperation of the international community to confront several challenges it was facing.
Hillary Clinton, a senator from New York, extended full support to President Zardari for the dollar 15 billion assistance under the Biden‑Lugar bill for the next ten years as a long‑term engagement with Pakistan.
India considers LTTE as a terrorist organization. Therefore India will not bail out the LTTE or stop the Sri Lankan Government from defeating the LTTE terrorism militarily. India is very clear that the LTTE is not part of the solution, but it is part of the problem.”
Janatha Party leader and one time Indian Law Minister Dr. Subramanian Swamy had that to say, at a discussion forum organized by the Canadian Democratic Tamil Cultural Association in Scarborough, Canada, on 11 November, as a guest speaker. Dr. Swamy spoke on the topic - “South Asian Diaspora”.
Sri lanka Army captures Pooneryn The Military today(15th) captured the strategically important Pooneryn, which is the last LTTE stronghold in the western flank of the A-9 road.
Troops of Army Task Force 1 have entered LTTE bastion at Ponneryn this morning (Nov 15) scoring the greatest feat against terrorist in their courageous march along the northwestern coast of the Island.
Infantrymen of 12 Gamunu Watch (12 GW) and 10 Gajaba Regiment (10 GR) successfully negotiated the great marshlands south of Pooneryn last night , and cut off the Pooneryn- Paranthan road (B-69) close to Nallur before dawn today. Troops then marched about 10 Km along the B-69 and entered into the Pooneryn town , where the terrorists have their last bastion on the West coast.
According to the defence sources at the field terrorists have given a stiff resistance to the advancing troops . Pitched battles are still going in the area, the sources said. The terrorists are fast withdrawing towards the K- Point.
President congratulates troops President Mahinda Rajapaksa in special message congratulated the troops on capturing Pooneryne. He also urged the LTTE leader to lay down arms and come for talks.
Addressing the nation through the state media, President Rajapaksa declared the Army's victory at Poonaryn and congratulated the soldiers. He also expressed his gratitude to the citizens of the country who have been sharing his vision to rid the country of terrorism and to free the next generation from the horrors of war.
The President's speech in full:
I inform the people in this country that our heroic soldiers have been able to liberate the full stretch of the A-32 road (Mannar- Pooneryn) and the Poonaryn area this morning. Now, we can open a land route to the Jaffna Peninsula after many years ; I think we can say , it was after the Second Eelam war .
At this moment, I very clearly call Prbhakaran of LTTE to immediately lay down your arms and come to the negotiation table. It is the greatest service that you can do to the people in the Wanni.
We congratulate the war heroes and express our sincere gratitude to the citizens of Sri Lanka who have given their unstinted support to our struggle.
Sri Lanka Artistes carry peace message through Adishtana Pooja
The Adishtana Pooja by Sri Lankan artistes aimed at carrying the message of peace and harmony, goodwill and brotherhood and principally organised to clear the air regarding the ongoing humanitarian operations in the North to their protesting South Indian counterparts was held yesterday at Torrington Square with the participation of a large gathering of film and tele-stars and personalities in the art field.
The main objective was to create a true picture of the ongoing humanitarian operations in the North to rescue the innocent civilians trapped in the grip of LTTE terror, veteran actor Ravindra Randeniya, an organiser of the event stated.
A letter was also submitted to South Indian Cinema Artistes and Technicians through the High Commissioner of India following the Adishtana Pooja.
Highlighting the main objective of the event, Randeniya said artistes who have gathered there yearn for a peaceful country. This is the hope and aspiration of the people of this country.
He said whatever community be they Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher, had been under threat by the LTTE terrorists' acts for more than three decades without exception. Today the artistes have raised their voice on their behalf.
There is no country which had been under the threat of terrorists' cruel acts with assassinations of political leaders and veterans from all the fields, he recalled the bitter past where innocents suffered.
A message signed by artistes stressed that there is no genocide practised against innocent un-armed Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka.
Nations caught in crossfire of extremism must be helped by international community: President Zardari
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 13 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari says the world community should commit itself to eliminating the root causes of extremism and terrorism, giving all people in all societies renewed faith in their countries, in their laws, and in the futures of their children.He said this while addressing the special session of the United Nations Interfaith Dialogue in New York City on Thursday(13th).
In his speech President Zardari urged participants of the interfaith conference to have consensus on an international agenda which may ensure (i) Hate speech aimed at inciting people against any religion must be unacceptable; (ii) Injustice and discrimination on the mere basis of one’s faith must be discouraged ‑‑‑ not only in words but through meaningful actions; (iii) Bigotry manifested in Islamophobia and anti‑Semitism must be combated; (iv) Dialogue, and not discord, between civilizations and faiths must be encouraged;
(v) Nations with little resources caught in the crossfire of extremism should be helped, strengthened and aided by the international community. Read More: www.newsonline24pakistan.wordpress.com
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has gone for the BIMSTEC summit with the sole intention of carrying forward a secret agreement with the Indian Government, said JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasingha, while celebrating the JVP’s annual ‘Il Mahaviru Samaruma’ held at the Viharamahadevi Park yesterday.
“Mahinda had sent his brother earlier; but now he has gone himself, to make a pledge to the Indian Government” he said.
Tamils are our people -President Rajapaksa tells India
Visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that there was no question of ordering a cease-fire against the LTTE, and added that his government would take all necessary steps to protect the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
"The Tamilians are our people; we have been taking care of them and we will continu
o came up for discu
Mr. Rajapaksa told reporters in Delhi: "For the last twenty years, we have been witnessing this ceasefire. We will not allow terrorism to continue."
Mr. Rajapaksa also held a bilateral meeting with Indian
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the Second BIMSTEC summit being held in New Delhi
Leaders of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Aghanistan discuss regional peace
NEW YORK, Nov 12 (APP): The leaders of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan met here Wednesday in a historic meeting aimed at bringing peace to the region. The meeting held here between King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, President Asif Ali Zardari and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan at the York Palace lasted over an hour.
The three leaders arrived here to represent their countries at a high level meeting on interfaith harmony between religions and cultures, organised by the United Nations. The talks focused on the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the entire region and the need for bringing peace and stability to the region
President Rajapaksha address BIMSTEC President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the 2nd Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit in New Delhi at Tajpalace hotel today.
Sri Lanka wholly with BIMSTEC against terrorism and organized crime - President said
"Sri Lanka wholeheartedly supports the BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking as an important and vital milestone in our efforts on counter terrorism," said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the 2nd Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), at New Delhi today(Nov 13).
"Terrorist groups are able to sustain themselves by illegal fundraising, narcotics and people trafficking, money laundering using international networks, and arms and ammunition smuggling including through the sea routes in the Bay of Bengal. I urge you to consider setting up a mechanism to effectively police the seas of the Bay of Bengal, to deny these terrorists mobility and connectivity.
"For over two decades, Sri Lanka has been facing a tremendous challenge to our democratic way of life through the barbaric actions of a terrorist group, the LTTE. There is no doubt that such groups have to be dealt with militarily. At the same time Sri Lanka believes that any underlying causes, exploited by the terrorists in an attempt to seek legitimacy for their operations, should be dealt with politically. I wish to assure this august gathering that we are firmly on the path to a political solution," President Rajapaksa said.
He added that: "While the BIMSTEC nations have constructively and prudently engaged in the process of globalization, nevertheless the economic challenges faced by many of our major trading partners, will inevitably have some impact on our own pace of growth....The situation has therefore made all of us very much aware of the protection that regional self-reliance can afford, against global economic uncertainties."
All India Students’ Federation has taken over the campaign for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
AISF representatives from Tamil Nadu, numbering over 2,000, left Chennai yesterday (Nov. 12) morning in a special train they named “Messenger of Tears.”
Other student chapters from all other states of India will join the TN chapter of the student federation.
All these student campaign processions will reach Delhi and march jointly to Lok Sabha, said AISF sources in Chennai.
President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama meet in the Oval Office of the White House Monday, Nov. 10, 2008. White House photo by Eric Draper
Bush and Obama, who routed the incumbent's fellow Republican and chosen successor John McCain in the November 4 election, met privately for about an hour in the chamber from which the US president makes world-shaping decisions.
Obama and wife Michelle Obama had arrived about 10 minutes early for their two-hour visit and got a warm welcome from Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the mansion's South Portico, a gateway to the mansion for many world leaders.
As their wives took a tour of the 132-room White House's residential areas, the 43rd president and his successor strolled along the Rose Garden and into the Oval Office, Obama's first ever visit to the storied seat of power.
Bush guided Obama into the room for private, one-on-one talks 71 days before the Democrat formally becomes the first black US president and inherits two wars and a global economic crisis that some compare to the Great Depression.
The outgoing leader described the talks as "good, constructive, relaxed and friendly," said spokeswoman Dana Perino.
New Maldives president sworn in A former political prisoner Mohamed Nasheed who defeated Asia's longest-serving ruler in the first multiparty election in the Maldives, took his oath today to become president of the Indian Ocean archipelago.
"No other citizens in the world in modern times have changed a 30-year-old regime so peacefully. I congratulate the Maldivian citizens," Mohamed Nasheed, 41, said shortly before signing his presidential oath to thundering applause in parliament.
A one metre rise in sea levels would almost totally submerge the country's 1,192 coral islands scattered off the southern tip of India. According to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a rise of at least 18cm is likely by the end of the century.
"I don't want Maldivians to end up as environmental refugees in some camp," Nasheed told reporters after his October 28 election win.
"We are talking about taking insurance - if the islands are sinking we must find highland some place close by. We should do that before we sink."Nasheed told Britain's Guardian newspaper that he had already broached the subject of finding a new homeland for Maldivians with several countries and found them to be "receptive".
